I am pleased to announce the addition of Fr. Tom Gaughan, C.S.C. to the Holy Cross Retreat House Community. Fr. Tom will serve as the 

Holy Cross Retreat House Chaplain.

In his role, Fr. Tom will serve the community full-time, and we look forward to his faith-filled support as we continue to grow.  Fr. Tom’s onboarding will begin in earnest on September 1st. 

Please share in my prayers of gratitude for Fr. Tom joining us.

Personal Message from Fr. Tom Gaughan, C.S.C

I was born in New Bedford, MA in February of 1958 in the middle of a huge
blizzard. I give this frosty entrance into the world as my reason for loving snow and the sport of ice hockey! I am the third child (second son) of a four kid family whose grandfathers immigrated to the US from Ireland (Co. Mayo and Donegal). 

I graduated from Bishop Stang High School in 1976, and attended the University of Notre Dame where I earned a Bachelor Degree in Sociology with a concentrate in Theology in 1980.  After college, I worked as a lay volunteer in Portland, OR for one year before entering seminary formation for the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1981 (which is located at Notre Dame). 

From August of 1982-83, I was a Novice for the Congregation at the Holy Cross Novitiate in Cascade, CO. After professing first vows in 1983, I returned to ND to continue the seminary formation program earning a Masters of Divinity in 1986 at Notre Dame. I professed Final
Vows in August of 1986, and was Ordained a Deacon the next day. I served as a Deacon at Christ the King Parish in South Bend, IN, and in April of 1987 I was Ordained to the Priesthood at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame.

And since 20 years of education was not enough, in 2002 I enrolled in a doctoral program for preaching and tacked on another 7 years, earning a Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching at the Aquinas Theological Institute in St Louis in 2009 (all while working full time at ND). 

After ordination, I was assigned to the University of Notre Dame and worked there for the next 25 years; filling many different ministerial roles on campus. Among these roles was serving as Rector of Stanford Hall for 20 years.  I also served as chaplain for many sports teams and church choirs. By far, my favorite chaplaincy was the 21 years that I served as Chaplain for the Notre Dame Men’s Hockey
Team. I love everything hockey: watching it, and playing it on ice, roller blades or just the street or floor.  I am a goalie….which as you will learn, “explains a lot”.

Along with hockey I am an avid racquetball player, and very much enjoy
music…all music but country, I’m afraid. I have been in choirs since high school, and my experiences with choirs have earned me three trips to Ireland, singing at several national conventions, at a private audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and as a part of the choir that sang at World Youth Day in Denver before St JohnPaul II, Pope in 1993.

In 2012, after serving at Notre Dame for 25 years, I was granted a sabbatical which lasted 2 years to address some health issues. In 2014, I was assigned to a couple of parishes in Bennington, VT. In 2016, I was assigned to Stonehill College to assist with Family Ministries, then in 2018 I was assigned to serve as Pastor at St Andre Bessette Catholic Church in downtown Portland, OR. With my term as Pastor coming to an end (6 years) I was asked by the Community to join the staff at the
Holy Cross Retreat House after a summer break to rest, recharge, and make a personal retreat. I am grateful to God for all the many ways that my life has been blessed through serving God’s People. I am very excited to begin a new chapter of ministry at the Holy Cross Retreat House!

Jim loved his family deeply and cherished his role as a parent and grandparent, which he affectionately called “the memory-making business.” He will always be fondly remembered by his family for his care and concern, his love and loyalty, and his sense of humor. He had a joke for every occasion and he brought so much fun and laughter to family gatherings and everywhere he went.

Read Jim's Obituary /
View Jim's Funeral